15 Unique Baby Gift Ideas

When looking for ideas for baby gifts, are you the same as me, where maybe you don’t have kids yet, or you do, but your friend is about to become a mom.

Question is – what do you buy? Do you buy overly practical baby presents and be deemed as boring? What about the educational route? Really? From birth? This was my dilemma when my lovely sister announced she was going to become a mom.

The idea of a baby shower, exciting as it is can also be quite daunting for folk such as me. So I got to thinking about going for a balance between practical and fun, oh and also not budget-busting!

If you are looking for a larger gift, read our review of the best baby gift box in 2021.

How to choose cheap baby gifts in 2021

My criteria for great baby gifts that have been well received and played with are as follows.

• Cute baby gifts need to be great value for play – so they’re not binned by the end of the day.
• Baby gifts need to have long play life and educational elements so you get the most value for money.
• At the minimum, I would expect them to have received excellent reviews from a number of sources – this is always my thing!
• Educational gifts should give the baby a variety of experiences.
• All baby gifts should have a great price tag.

Disclosure: Please note that this page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you choose to purchase.

Also, please understand that I only recommend products that I truly believe will benefit you. Whether or not I earn a commission, these are products I would still recommend. 

So here’s my list of recommendations:

1. Bath tub crayons

 Babies absolutely adore bath time, especially if they can splash around and draw all over the walls.

2. Terry bath mitts

What better thing to chew and throw around in the bath than these handy terry mitts that double up as fun baby washers.

3. Wooden Walker

Another inexpensive unique baby gift could be this wooden walker. Baby can experiment and play with the blocks while really young, they will get the added advantage of growing with this sturdy toy, eventually using it to steady themselves while walking.

My niece absolutely adored hers and caused havoc as a toddler, hurtling around the house with it!

4. Ubbi Bath Toys

5. Cute baby towel

A baby towel is such a cute baby shower gift. Many of them are also hypoallergenic now and guaranteed to keep the baby warm when they are ready to be dried.

6. Double sided car seat baby wrap

Ok, so this might be a baby shower gift idea or newborn gift that nobody else has actually thought of. It’s not overly expensive and is a custom-designed baby blanket for a car seat. Inspired!

My sister has complained in the past about normal fleeces or blankets not quite being the correct size or shape. The advantage is that mum will know your baby is secure, but she won’t be worrying about the wrap moving.

7. Clip on pram toy

The reason it’s so good as a baby gift is that it is so versatile. Baby can chew it, pull it and listen the different sounds it produces. Older babies can squeeze the ball on the toy, therefore building their motor skills.

8. Baby Bath Books

Maybe for the boy or girl who already seems to have everything, this could be a big win as a new baby gift. They can be chewed, spilt on, puked on, and will still be brilliant little books for parents to read to their bundle of joy.

9. ThinkFun Roll and Play Game

This is really cool first game for kids. Simply roll the cube and choose the matching color card and do the simple activity shown, such as “Make a happy face”, “Moo like a cow” or “Find something blue”. It’s fun and easy and something you can do together.

10. Stack Up Cups

Another cheap gift for babies could be these fun stacking cups – they can be used anywhere, from water trays, the bath, sandpits to just on the carpet. Simple but great fun! Oh and so chewable!

11. Boon Building Bundle Toy Set

Seriously…the fun an adult could have with these interlinking tubes is immense, never mind fun for baby bath time! The beauty of this toy is that it grows with the child, who will be able to progress from throwing and chewing the pieces, to interlinking them together and pouring water through them! Fab bargain.

12. VTech Pull and Sing Puppy

This is a great unique baby gift idea, as it does so many things as well as providing a source of entertainment. It includes in its repertoire, phrases, sounds, 3 sing-along songs, and 20 melodies. The puppy teaches; colours, numbers, and cause & effect.  Couple this with moving legs and a wagging tail, it’s a brilliant, stimulating toy for the baby.

13. Nuby 18 Piece Linkables Baby Teething Toys

Looking for a practical present for a new baby? These are perfect as they’re loads of fun also. Additionally, they can be attached to lots of things such as strollers, play yards and playmats, so the baby can have fun on the go. Bright colors make them stimulating and attractive. As the baby grows and starts teething, the nodules on the linkables feel great on the baby’s gums. Nuby linkables also offer that tactile experience that babies crave.

14. Oball

If your friend’s child hasn’t got one of these, you should buy one. Not only are they are easy to grip and they rattle, but they are also soft enough not to hurt if pitched in the air by baby!

15. Activity Play Table

Another budget baby gift could be this superb, versatile water play centre. There is just so much to do for an older baby, who can stand. It allows them to safely splash around and build their sensory skills.

It’s great as it’s not too big, so you can move it easily into the shade, and play inside with it, if the weather isn’t brilliant.

What is a unique baby gift?

The best gifts for babies stimulate their senses or are extremely practical for their parents. Babies love putting everything in their mouths so look for different baby gifts that incorporate this sensory experience. 

Give a gift that focuses on the contrast that they can see. Highly colorful toys like the bath toys above are perfect for babies to learn about the world around them.

Where can I find inexpensive baby gifts?

There are now so many places you can find affordable baby gifts. Here are some suggestions:

1. Amazon
2. Etsy
3. Ebay
4. Macy’s
5. Ikea

How do I choose unique baby gifts?

There are a variety of ways to do this. Think about the parents and what they likely need. Also, have they mentioned anything that they have already bought? Cross that off the list? Consider maybe something neutral if the parents want the sex of their bundle to be a surprise.

What to look for in a unique baby gift

Usefulness

Think about how long parents can use your gift. Is it a go-to gift for calming baby down, or something they will use time and time again? Cute baby gifts are lovely, but will it help tired parents mid-meltdown or after a long tiring night? 

Style

Practical and cute is the perfect winning gift for newborns and babies in general. Some gifts can create memorable photos for your friends of their bundle of joy.

Ease of use 

No one is going to spend the time fiddling with a baby gift that is hard to use. It will go straight to the charity shop. Best to read reviews and ensure your unique baby gift is easy to use.

Ideally think about whether a parent could use it with one hand since the other one is usually carrying a baby. Easy to use baby gifts will save parents time.

What do new moms need for baby?

There are lots of practical and fun things you could arrange together in a cute home-arranged hamper for new moms.

Baby Hamper Ideas

Why not arrange some baby essentials into one of these cute diaper bags? They are available in grey stars, grey and white spots. Also powder pink.

You could include loads of cloth bibs like these below.

Plastic bibs for feeding, burping cloths, baby bubble bath, bath towels, rattles and other stroller toys.

In Conclusion

So there you have it – a selection of the best budget baby gift ideas that I have seen used and loved, or that have been recommended to me by moms.

Be sure to share in the comments x